Gordon Clare Dalen

Gordon Clare Dalen July 19, 1933 " June 21, 2011 After a brief but catastrophic illness Gordon Clare Dalen passed away late Tuesday night, June 21st. He leaves behind Lois, his wife of 35 years, four children, four step-children, sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Our beloved father was born in Parshall, ND, to Clara and Gilman Dalen. He is preceded in death by his brother Merle and is survived by two sisters, Phyllis of Missouri and Cheryl of Washington. Gordon is also survived by his first wife Shirley Ann with whom he had four children: Kerry and Mark of Albuquerque, NM, Kim of Durango, CO, and Scott of Farmington. Following graduation in 1961,with his BS degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT he accepted a position as Rotational Engineer with the U.S. bureau of Reclamation in Farmington during the construction of Navajo Dam and the Hammond Irrigation Project Prior to that he had served in the US Air Force stationed in North Africa during the Korean Conflict. In Farmington he was active in support of the local AAU swim club the Tarpons. He was an avid skier and never missed a season until his death. As an engineer for the US Bureau of Reclamation Gordon participated in the construction of Navajo Dam whose canals bring irrigation to the site of the current Navajo Agricultural Products Industries. Accepting early retirement when the Bureau office closed in 1985, Gordon continued working as a consultant with Brewer Associates. Since retiring Gordon remained active in community affairs serving on the boards of the Four Corners Opera Association, the San Juan Symphony League, the Farmington Elks Club, the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority, and Presbyterian Medical Services. A devoted husband and father, a caring and active member of the Farmington community, Gordon will be wholeheartedly missed by friends and family. Per his wishes Gordon’s remains will be cremated. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute Street, Farmington. (505) 325-8688